Bascule bridge



Sept. l, 1925. 1,552,243

J. B. s'rRAuss BAscULE BRIDGE4 Filed Peb.- 17. 1921 2 Sheets-Shut 1 511x Os @y I L,

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Sept. l. 1925.` ,243

J. B. sTRAuSs BAscULE BRIDGE v und Feb. 17. 1921 2 suena-slm: z

each side of the main span.

Patented Sept. 1, 1925.

UNITED STATES l 1,552,243 PATENT OFFICE.-

JOSEPH B. STIRAUSS; OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

:BAscULE BRIDGE.

YAppnaaea mea February 17, 1921. serial No. 445,604.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH B. STRAUss, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Bascule Bridges, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in bascule bridges and has for its object to provide a new and improved device of this description. The invention has among other objects to provide a suitable support for the main `span which will give ample space for a large volume counterweight of cheap material such as concrete, and which will reduce the cost of constructing bridges of this type. The invention is illust-rated in the accompanying drawings wherein Fig. 1 is a side view showing one form of bridge embodying the invention;

Fig. 2is a plan view with parts omitted showing the construction illustrated in Fig. 1; Y

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 2 showing the bearing 4* for one of the inside trunnions;

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several figures.

' In carrying out my present invention I provide a bascule bridge having a main span 1, having the main trusses 2, one at These main trusses are provided with trunnions 3. The outside trunnions are mounted in bearings 4, and the inside trunnions in bearings 4, said bearings being carried by suitable supporting means. In the construct-ion illustrated I provide a truss frame 5 on the outside of each main truss of the main span. This truss frame comprises two members 6 and 7 inclined with relation to each other and connected together at the bottom by the member 8. A cross member 9 is connected with the two members 7 on opposite sides of the main spanv and extends beneath it. Itwill'be noted that these members 7 are inclined in a forward direction from the trunnions, that is towardthe forward end of the main span and away fromthe tail or' rear end". It will further be noted that the cross member 9is inclined in a similar manner.A The outside trunnion bearings of the main span are mounted upon the members 6v and 7 .f Each outside supporting frame is provided withan inclined member 10. VThese. members 10 connect with the associated members 11 of each frame. Cross pieces 12 connect the members 7 and the members 10 and 11. The members 11 project up above the lower ends of the members 10 and act as supports for the main span at a point ahead of the trunnions. There is a second Across member 18 which connects with the opposite members 10 and which extends beneath the main span. The inside trunnion bearings 1a are supported on the cross members 9 and 13. It will thus be seen that there is no cross member which runs vertically beneath the trunnions, but that the cross member or members by which the inside trunnions are supported are inclined in a forward direction'so that their center lines are on the forward side of the vertical line through the axis of lthe'trunnions.V It will also beseen that the center lines of these two inclined cross members intersect in the trunnions and that the lines from the centers vof the trunnions through the center of these cross members runs along the axis of the inclined members 7 and 10, and when these cross members are girders this line runs along the webs. of the girders.V

The main span is provided with a counterweight 15 which 'preferably extends across the main span between the main trusses 2. This counterweight is preferably made of large bulk, lowcost material, vsuch that this gives a large amount of spacefor the counterweight as there is nothing to interfere with the movement of the counterweight when the bridge is opened, and thus gives a large angle of opening, a portion of the counterweight being free to pass beyond this Vertical line through the center of the trunnions without interfering with any of the trunnion supporting structures. In

vother words this construction leaves a clear room for this large counterweight so as to permit this large angle of opening ofthe mam span.

It will further be seen that the reactions of the trunnions are transmitted to the out- ,v

side supporting frame 5, the reactions of the inside t-runnions being transmitted to the members of said frame through the cross members 9 and 13. The frames on the outside of the main trusses it will be noted have inclined members which form a stiif resisting framev for the stresses5 and it will further be seen that the direction of transmission of these stresses runs centrally of the members "of this frame. The upper ends 'of the members of the frame 5 are preferably connected together by suitable plates or the like 16 at the top, and by suitable members or the .like 17 and 18 at the bottom. In Fig. 3 I have 'shownone form of the inside trunnion bearing. rilhis construction saves material., prevents obstruction to the large bulk low cost counterweight, gives sufficient `spacezffor it, and at the same time Ypermits the large angle of opening required.

I have described in detail a particular construction embodying the invention but it is of courseevident that the parts may be varied without departing from the, spirit of the invention as embodied in the claims hereto attached, and I therefore d0 not .limit myself to the particular construction shown. y I claim: l

1. A bascule bridge comprising a main span having main truss members one on eachY side thereof, outside and inside trunnions connected with said truss members, bearings Y Afor said trunnions,an outside frame on each side of the main span having inclined mem bers connected together to form a stili frame7 some of said members being inclined toward the forward end of the main span, the bearings for the outside trunnions being mounted upon said frames, cross members connecting the members of the frame on opposite sides of the main span which incl-ine forwardly, the inner trunnion bearings being` mounted 'upon said crossmembers.

2. A bascule bridge comprising a main span, main trusses on opposite sides f said main span, said trusses having inside and .outside trunnions connected therewith, bearings for said trunnions, a supporting frame on the outside of each maintruss upon which the bearings of the outside ltrunnions are support-ed, said supporting frames having` forwardly inclined members, a cross mehr ber' connecting two of the forwardly in- 'clined members of said frame, said cross Ysuppm't being also forwardly inclined,lthe

inside trunmon supports of thetrunnio-ns being connected with said cross support, and means for transmitting the stresses from said cross support to said outside frame. 3. A bascule bridge comprising a main span, main trusses on opposite sides of said main spa-n, saidr trusses having inside and outside trunnions connected therewith, bear- `port1ng frame kan the outside ofeac'hiaan truss upon which the bearings of the outside trunnions are supported having two forwardly inclined members, two cross supports connecting the forwardly inclined members on opposite sides of the main span, the bearings for the inside trunnions being mounted upon said cross members.

4;. A bascule bridge comprising a main span, a large bull:i counterweight connected with the rear end of said main span, inside and outside vtrunnions for saidrmain span, bearings for saidY trunnions, .two

frames on opposite sides of the main span, a cross member located in a plane at an angle to the vertical plane extending through the center of the trunnions and connected'with said frames the bearings for the inner trunnions being connected( with said crossl member whereby increased space fer said large bulk counterweight is secured. c

5. A bascule bridge comprising armani span, a large bulk, counterweight connected with the rear end of said main span, inside and outside trunnions lfor said main span, bearings for s'aid trunnions, two frames on opposite sides ofthe main span, two cross members located in planesat an angle to the vertical 'plane extending through vthe center of the trunnions and' connected with said frames, one cross member being forward of the other, bearings for the inside trunnions mounted upon' said cross members, whereby increased vspace for said large bulk counterweight is secured. l Y v,

l 6. A bascule bridge comprisingl a main span, outside'and insidetrun'nions therefor, bearings for said trunnions, t'wos'tiifr frames. one on each side of the main span, said frames made up ofl twov members inclined an angle to each other, oiie of saidmembers forward of the vertical plane lezten'ding through they trunnions, a cross member connecting the latter members on opposite sides of the main span, the inside trunnion bearings being connected with said cross member.

7. A bascule bridge comprising a main span, outside andinside trunnions therefor,

ber, a third inclined. member connected v with each of said frames, a cross member connecting the said third member on opposite sides of the main span,4 the'inside trunnion bearings vbeing also connected with said latter cross member. i

s. A bascule bri ge comprising a main span, outside and inside fassions tlferefer,

bearings for said trunnions, two stiff frames one on each side of the main span, said frames made up of two members inclined at an angle to each` other, one of said members forward of the Vertical plane extending through the trunnions, a cross member connecting the latter members on opposite sides of the main span, the inside trunnion bearings being connected with said cross member, a third inclined member connected with each of said frames, a cross member connetting the said third member on opposite sides of the main span, the inside trunnion bearings being also connected with said latter cross member, a Vertical member connected with the other members of each of said frames, said Vertical member adapted to be engaged by a portion of the main span in front of the trunnions when the main span is closed.,

Signed at Chicago, county of Cook,y and State of Illinois, this 5th day of February, 1921.

JOSEPH B. STRAUSS. 

